88-0421 Saleen Mustang

CLOSER LOOK: WHITE AND BEIGE HATCHBACK (88-0421)

PHOTOS: JAY KAROLYI

For the 1988 model year Saleen Autosport kicked Mustang production into high gear. Coming off of the championship 1987 Escort Endurance season and moving vehicle production to an expanded facility in Anaheim California, Saleen was on top of the world for 1988.

Saleen Autosport advertised seven standard exterior color combinations and two interior colors for 1988, they were:

* Black / Silver Exterior Graphics
* Black / Gold Exterior Graphics
* Oxford White / Blue Exterior Graphics
* Oxford White / Silver Exterior Graphics
* Scarlet Red / Silver Exterior Graphics
* Scarlet Red / Gold Exterior Graphics
* Medium Charcoal Grey / Silver Exterior Graphics

* Charcoal Grey Interior
* Sand Beige Interior

Though, by request unlisted color combinations and non-standard exterior colors could be ordered with an optional fee.

88-0421 Saleen Mustang
88-0421 Saleen Mustang

Produced in Saleen Autosport’s new Anaheim facility during April 1988 and shipped to Bleakley Ford in May; 88-0421 was a standard Saleen Mustang conversion and contained the expected Ford and Saleen features.

For the 1988 model year Saleen produced 709 serialized Mustangs, 705 were street models with four competition prepared vehicles. The body style breakdown of those street models is, 543 hatchbacks, 137 convertibles and 25 coupes.

Of the 543 street prepared hatchbacks, it is known that 147 were painted Oxford White (paint code 9L). Of those, 18 featured Sand Beige interiors. Fourteen models were equipped with 5-speed manual transmissions, while 4 had the optional automatic.

For the model year 1988 it is known that Saleen Autosport produced a complete total of 106 Mustangs with Sand Beige interior.

From model year 1987 through 1989, Saleen Autosport produced a total of 209 Mustangs with Sand Beige interior. Of those, it is known that 36 were painted Oxford White (paint code 9L).

PRODUCTION BREAKDOWN

1987
Oxford White, Sand Beige, hatchback, manual transmission: 1

1988
Oxford White, Sand Beige, hatchback, manual transmission: 14
Oxford White, Sand Beige, hatchback, automatic transmission: 4
Oxford White, Sand Beige, convertible, manual transmission: 1
Oxford White, Sand Beige, coupe, manual transmission: 1

1989
Oxford White, Sand Beige, hatchback, manual transmission: 12
Oxford White, Sand Beige, convertible, manual transmission: 3

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[Source: Jay Karolyi]